Musical instrument



Nov. 4, 1941. w. L. FULLER 2,261,357

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May '7, 1938 I ll INVENTOR.

14 4/21" A fZ ///-2/" Patented Nov. 4, 1941 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Walter L. Fuller, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Gibson, Inc., Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 7, 1938, Serial No. 206,557

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments.

I The main objects of this inventions are:

First, to provide a stringed musical instrument having novel and improved damping means.

Second, to provide a musical instrument of the type described having sets of strings in an improved arrangement for convenience in play- Third, to provide a musical instrument of the type described having provision for quickly and conveniently damping said sets of strings selectively.

Forth, to provide a musical instrument having a plurality of sets of strings arranged in stepped fashion for convenience in playing and damping means adapted to damp one set thereof while freeing the other set for playing and vice versa.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of an instrument having the provisions of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view partially broken away and in section on line 2-2 of Figs. 1 and 3, illustrating details of construction.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on line 33 of Fig. 1, more clearly illustrating the construction.

The present invention relates to a stringed musical instrument which is provided with a plurality of sets of strings. that in such an instrument sympathetic vibration is generally set up in one set of strings while the other is being played and it is a primary purpose of this invention to provide means for overcoming this objection. A further purpose of this invention relates to the disposition of the respective sets in a novel relation whereby either set is played with equal facility.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral l in general indicates the instrument of the invention, the body which is box-like in shape having a pair of stepped upper and lower lands 2, 3 adapted to support the respective sets of strings 4, 5. These strings are mounted. in a conventional manner on the body. The body referred to is adapted to be supported on a suitable table or by suitable supporting legs (not shown), whereby to be conveniently played.

In use, the sets of strings 4, are adapted to be manipulated selectively, it being contem- It has been found 7 plated that one set shall be damped while the other set is free for vibration and vice versa. It is thus apparent that by stepping the body of the instrument as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 the sets 4 and 5 are accessible with equal convenience for playing without interference with the other set by the players fingers or sleeves.

In the illustrated embodiment I have shown an instrument equipped with a magnetic pickup 6 for an electrical amplifier and having the control knobs l, 8 for regulating volume and tone; however it will be apparent that the provisions under consideration are not limited to an instrument having such electrical amplification means, One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide means for selectively damping the two sets of strings 4, 5, the said damping means being operable in unison. This means consists of a pair of damping members generally indicated 9, I0. These damping members are identical. Each consists of a suitable longitudinally slotted body element H which is rockably mounted in end journals l2 and has an actuating arm or lug l3 fixedly secured thereto on one end thereof. The said damping members are disposed transversely of the sets of strings 4, 5, as illustrated in Fig. l, and a strip l4 oi suitable damping material such as felt, rubber, or the like is inserted in the chanel 15 of the body element II.

The actuating lugs 13 are disposed angularly with reference to the respective damping members 9, it! and one another so that the damping strips M are actuated in unison, one into damping contact with and the other out of damping contact with their respective string sets t, 5. In Fig, 3 I illustrate the angular relation of the lugs 13 for this purpose.

Alongside of each set of strings I dispose an elongated manually operable damper control piece or actuating member, these pieces being designated by the reference numerals l8, H, see Figs. 1 and 2. Each piece carries a downwardly extending push rod 18 slidable through the body of the instrument, and the said rods are pivoted to opposite ends of a lever 19 which is fulcrummed to the body internally of the same at 20. It is thus apparent that when the member I! is depressed the member I6 is raised and vice versa.

In Fig.v 3 I illustrate the manner of opera-tively connecting the actuating members l6, I! with the damping members 9, m, respectively. To do this I employ a pair of flexible cables or Bowden tubes 2|, 22 connected respectively to the members [6, IT at one end and to the damper actuating arms I 3 at the other end.

By the foregoing construction, assuming the parts to be in position illustrated in Fig. 3, depression of the actuating member l6 causes the arm I3 to be rocked in clockwise direction and the felt or damping strip I4 to be withdrawn from damping contact with the set of strings 5. Simultaneously with the depression of the member I 6, the member I! is elevated through the agency of the rods l8 and lever [9, with the result that the corresponding arm I3 is rocked in counterclockwise direction, bringing the damping member actuated by the cable 22 into damping engagement with the set of strings 4.

The above described assembly of elements makes it possible to simultaneously damp one set of strings and free another, thus entirely eliminating the possibility of sympathetic vibration rising in the set not being played on. Moreover, the stepped construction of the instrument not only makes it possible to manipulate the two sets of strings with great facility, but also permits free access to the damper actuating flnger members l6, I! so that the same may be manipulated with great rapidity and without interrupting the playing.

The rear step of the body is elevated above the front step to such an extent or degree that the rear set of strings can be played without the arms or sleeves of the operator contacting the front set of strings. It will be noted that the damper actuating members 16 and I! are mounted on the steps and the connections are such that when the actuating member 16 is depressed, it throws the damper operatively associated with the set of strings on the upper step into disengaged position and it returns the actuating member ll to its initial position so that when it is desired to shift the playing from the strings on the upper step to the strings on the lower step, the actuating member I! may be depressed and the set of strings on the lower step is freed and those on the upper step automatically damped.

As stated, the instrument illustrated is provided with electrical amplifying means, the details of which are not illustrated.

The control means designated by the numerals l and 8 are mounted between the sets of strings and in a forwardly inclined relation so that they are very conveniently manipulated.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body in the form of a hollow member having a pair of stepped lands, a set of strings extending lengthwise of each land, all the strings of each set being grouped together, a damping member for each set of strings and means for operating said damping members alternately and simultaneously, comprising a rockshaft for each of said damping members, actuating arms for said rockshafts, a pair of flexible force transmitting members disposed within said body and connected to said arms, manually actuated control pieces connected to said flexible members, and means connecting said control pieces for simultaneous and opposite movement.

2. A stringed musical instrument having a body and a plurality of sets of strings, all the strings of each set being grouped together, a damping member for each set of strings and means for operating said damping members alternately and simultaneously, comprising a rockshaft for each of said damping members, actuating arms for said rockshafts, a pair of elongated force transmitting members disposed within said body and connected to said arms, said last named members being actuable in the direction of the length thereof, manually actuated control pieces connected, to said flexible members for lengthwise actuation thereof, and means connecting said control pieces for simultaneous and opposite movement.

3. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body in the form of a hollow member having a pair of stepped lands and a set of strings extending lengthwise of each land, all the strings of each set being grouped together, a damping member for each set of strings and means for operating said damping members alternately and simultaneously, comprising flexible force transmitting members disposed within said body and connected to said damping members, manually actuated control pieces connected to said transmitting members, and means connecting said control pieces for simultaneous and opposite movement.

4. A stringed musical instrument having a plurality of sets of strings, all the strings of each set being grouped together, a damping member for each set of strings and means for operating said clamping members alternately and simultaneously, comprising flexible and bendable tension transmitting members disposed Within said body and connected to said damping members, manually actuated control pieces connected to said transmitting members to tension the same and operate said damping members, and means connecting said control pieces to one another for simultaneous and opposite movement.

5. A stringed musical instrument having a plurality of sets of strings, all the strings of each set being grouped together, a damping member for each set of strings and means for operating said damping members alternately and simultaneously, comprising tension transmitting members disposed within said body and connected to said damping members, manually actuated control pieces connected to said transmitting members to tension the same and operate said damping members, and means connecting said control pieces to one another for simultaneous movement.

6. A musical instrument comprising a stepped body having vertically spaced lands, sets of strings disposed lengthwise of said lands, all the strings of each set being grouped together, a damping member for each set and means for actuating one of said members into damping engagement with its set and the other of said members out of damping engagement with its set and vice versa, comprising a control piece mounted on each land, means connecting said control pieces whereby movement imparted to one thereof produces an equal and opposite simultaneous movement of the other thereof, and flexible cable means connecting said control pieces with said damping members for imparting said simultaneous opposite movements to the damping means.

7. A musical instrument having a plurality of vibrators comprising a stepped body having vertically spaced lands, said vibrators being disposed lengthwise of said lands with all the vibrators on a given land assembled together, a plurality of clamping members and means for actuating one of said members into damping engagement with certain of said vibrators and another of said members out of damping engagement with other of said vibrators and vice versa, comprising a control piece mounted on each land, a member pivoted to said instrument and connected to said control pieces whereby movement imparted to one thereof produces an equal and opposite simultaneous movement of the other thereof, and flexible cable means connecting said control pieces with said damping members for imparting said simultaneous opposite movements to the damping members.

8. A musical instrument comprising a stepped body having spaced lands thereon, sets of strings disposed longitudinally of said lands, dampers extending transversely of said sets and means for simultaneously actuating one of said dampers in one direction into damping engagement with its corresponding set and the other of said dampers in another direction out of damping engagement with its corresponding set and vice versa, comprising a manually actuable control piece for each damper, means within said body for operatively connecting said pieces to said dampers, comprising a pair of elements connected respectively to said dampers, and means pivoted medially to the body and to said elements for connecting said elements for simultaneous opposite movement.

9. A musical instrument comprising a stepped body having vertically spaced lands thereon, sets of strings disposed longitudinally of said lands, all the strings of each set being grouped together, dampers extending transversely of said sets and means for simultaneously actuating one of said dampers into damping engagement with its corresponding set and the othe of said dampers out of damping engagement with its corresponding set and vice versa, comprising a pair of elements connected respectively to said dampers, and means pivoted medially to the body and to said elements for connecting said elements for simultaneous opposite movement.

10. A stringed musical instrument of the guitar type comprising a body having a stepped top, a set of manually playable strings mounted on each step of the body with all of the strings of each set grouped together, said steps extending longitudinally of the respective sets of strings and being provided with fretted surfaces coacting with the strings of the sets in playing the instrument, the difference in elevation of the steps being such that the rear set of strings is elevated above the front set sufiiciently to provide clearance for the playing of the rear set, and selectively actuable damping means for the strings of each set, said means being simultaneously engageable with one set to damp the same and disengageable from the other to free the same, and vice versa.

11. A musical instrument of the guitar type comprising a stepped body having vertically spaced longitudinally extending lands thereon, sets of manually actuable strings disposed longitudinally of said lands with all the strings of each set grouped together, said lands extending parallel to and beneath the respective sets of strings and being provided with fretted surfaces for co action with the respective string sets in playing of the instrument, and damper means fo said strings including a separate damper for all the strings of each set, said respective dampers being disposed on said lands adjacent said strings, said damper means including means for simultaneously actuating the respective dampers to respectively engage and disengage the sets corresponding thereto.

12. A musical instrument of the guitar type comprising a stepped body having vertically spaced elongated lands thereon, sets of manually actuable strings disposed longitudinally of said lands, said lands extending parallel to and beneath the strings and being provided with fretted surfaces for coaction with the respective string sets in playing of the instrument, all the strings of a given set being grouped together on a given land, and means for selectively damping all the strings of each set, including a damper for each set and means for simultaneously actuating one of said dampers into damping engagement with its corresponding set and the other of said dampers out of damping engagement with its corresponding set, and vice versa.

13. A stringed musical instrument of the guitar type comprising an elongated body having a stepped top providing vertically spaced elongated lands on the body, a set of manually actuable strings mounted on each land of the body with all the strings thereof grouped together, said lands having fretted surfaces extending longitudinally of and beneath the strings for coaction therewith in playing, the height of the step being such that the rear set of strings is elevated above the front set to provide clearance for the manual playing of the rear set of strings, and selectively actuable damping means for the strings of each set.

WALTER L. FULLER. 

